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Dave Jarrett named nordic combined head coach

By

April 23, 2008

The U.S. Ski Team has named two-time Olympian Dave Jarrett as the new nordic combined head coach, according to Nordic Program Director John Farra. Jarrett was promoted from his post as assistant coach to the head position this month. "He was a part of our best season and now he's coming on as head coach at a time where we're in the best position ever to make history in this sport again," Farra said. "We invested in him as an athlete and Dave has earned his spot as the head coach. We're pumped to have him on board. He is a great fit and that's exciting." Before attending the University of Colorado where he earned degrees in both kinesiology and applied physiology, Jarrett was a nordic combined athlete on the U.S. Ski Team from 1992 through 1998. He was a member of the 1994 and 1998 Olympic teams.

THE U.S. SKI TEAM has named two-time Olympian Dave Jarrett as the new nordic combined head coach, according to Nordic Program Director John Farra. Jarrett was promoted from his post as assistant coach to the head position this month. "He was a part of our best season and now he's coming on as head coach at a time where we're in the best position ever to make history in this sport again," Farra said. "We invested in him as an athlete and Dave has earned his spot as the head coach. We're pumped to have him on board. He is a great fit and that's exciting." Before attending the University of Colorado where he earned degrees in both kinesiology and applied physiology, Jarrett was a nordic combined athlete on the U.S. Ski Team from 1992 through 1998. He was a member of the 1994 and 1998 Olympic teams. "I'm excited. I've been working with the Team for a long time," Jarrett said. "Bill [Demong of Vermontville, N.Y.] and Johnny [Spillane of Steamboat Springs, Colo.] were teammates of mine. When I was ending my career, they were beginning theirs, so I'm really close with them." Prior to the 2002 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City, Jarrett worked with the ski club at Soldier Hollow in Midway, Utah. The following spring, he was called up to the national team as assistant coach with the nordic combined program and has been working with the team ever since. "I am extremely excited. I think that I bring a lot of experience to the table. I want to continue what the previous coaches have started," Jarrett said. "Our goals are to win medals and to improve the depth of the team for the future. We all need to raise the bar and it's our responsibility to step up and continue that tradition." Jarrett, who lives in Heber City, Utah, with his wife and two children, takes over the head coaching position from Lasse Ottesen who led the nordic combined team for two seasons and worked with the U.S. team since 2004. "We've acquired a taste for medals in the last few years and now we're hungry for more," Jarrett said.